TEAMS FINALLY SET TO WELCOME FANS

CEBL's Blackjacks will open their doors for up to 1,000 spectators at Saturday's game

There's history in the air as the Ottawa Blackjacks prepare to invite fans back to TD Place for Saturday's 4 p.m. matinee against the Edmonton Stingers.

It will mark the first time spectators have been allowed in any of the city's stadiums and arenas since COVID-19 arrived with a vengeance in March 2020, becoming a fixture in our lives ever since.

“The moment isn't lost on us,” Blackjacks president Michael Cvitkovic said Friday as he was putting rally towels on the seats inside the arena. “It's not just for us, but for the whole (Canadian Elite Basketball League). To have been able to get through the bubbles and play through all the guidelines and it's very important for season-ticket holders, who have stuck with us despite not being able to see any games live.”

Under the Stage 3 guidelines which began Friday, crowds at sports venues are limited to 1,000. Cvitkovic is confident that there will be 1,000 in the arena Saturday, with safety protocols — masks are required and non-family members must be separated by two metres — in place.

“We've worked hard with (Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group) and everyone feels comfortable with the checklists,” he said. “There's a little relief and there's a little joy. We've done really well in Ottawa (with the COVID -19 counts).”

The Blackjacks have also reached out to Ottawa Public Health officials, aiming to reward front-line workers with tickets.

“It's not by fluke,” Cvitkovic said. “The community has done a great job. (Saturday) is important for all of us.”

How long has it been since the area's sports teams have enjoyed the luxury of attending the action?

For those into trivia, here are the where-were-you-then moments:

On March 5, 2020, in front of an announced crowd of 13,445 at Canadian Tire Centre, the Senators welcomed back fan favourite Jean- Gabriel Pageau for the first time since he was traded to the New York Islanders. Brady Tkachuk, Connor Brown, Anthony Duclair and Mikkel Boedker scored for Ottawa in a 4-3 victory. From there, the Senators travelled to California, playing their final game in front of fans against the Los Angeles Kings on March 11.

The Ottawa 67's thumped the Niagara IceDogs 9-1 on March 10, hitting a pair of major milestones in the process. The victory, in front of 4,741 at TD Place, was the 67's 50th of the season and put them over the 100-point mark in the OHL. Noel Hoefenmayer, who played 18 games with the AHL's Toronto Marlies last season, registered one goal and three assists in the win.

Way back on Nov. 1, 2019, the Ottawa Redblacks closed out their 3-15 CFL season with a 42-32 loss to the Montreal Alouettes at TD Place. The game was played in front of 24,592. Among the highlights for the Redblacks was Brad Sinopoli catching eight passes for 100 yards. Sinopoli has since retired and won't be on the field when fans return for Redblacks games.

There's a little relief and there's a little joy. We've done really well in Ottawa.

On Oct. 23, 2019, in front of 4,741 at TD Place, the Ottawa

Fury lost 5-4, on penalty kicks, to the Charleston Battery in an USL play-in game toward the playoffs. It turns out it was the final game in franchise history, with Atletico Ottawa and the Canadian Premier League moving in as Ottawa's pro soccer franchise. Atletico will make its home debut at TD Place on Aug. 14, 17 months after the previous pro soccer game here.

Across the Ottawa River, on March 7, 2020, the Gatineau Olympiques played their final Quebec Major Junior Hockey League game at the Robert Guertin Arena in front of 2,167. The Olympiques went down 5-1 to the Sherbrooke Phoenix, with Tyler Boivin scoring the only Gatineau goal. The Olympiques played in part of a makeshift bubble 202021 season, but with no fans.

The Blackjacks, meanwhile, began playing in the CEBL last season, but the only action they saw was in a bubble tournament in St. Catharines.

This season, they've played at TD Place, but without fans, en route to their 2-5 record so far.

“We've got all these white towels out,” said Cvitkovic. “I think it's symbolic.”